Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali Declared Calamity-Hit Areas.

Lahore -- Expressing solidarity with the flood victims, the Punjab cabinet which met here on Monday with Punjab Chief Minister Ch Parvez Elahi in the chair approved several steps regarding the ongoing relief operation and rehabilitation work in the affected areas.

While the chief minister announced to spare his helicopter for the rescue operations, the cabinet ministers pledged to give one month's salary to help the flood affectees in their difficult time.

Besides other measures, the cabinet also endorsed the decision to declare flood-affected areas of Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Mianwali as calamity-stricken. The farmers in these areas will no longer be required to pay water cess and other dues to the government. It was also decided to meet the needs of other flood-affected provinces as the cabinet announced the dispatch of medicines and medical staff to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan for the affectees.

'The Punjab government stands with the affectees of other provinces in the hour of need, '' said the chief minister while addressing the meeting which also offered prayers for the departed souls besides extending sympathies to the bereaved heirs.

The CM directed to speed up the relief activities in a systematic manner and said that tents, food hampers and other equipment will be provided in the affected areas as needed. The government will also redress the damages to houses, crops and livestock and every rightful person will be given his right; he said and directed that no one's right should be usurped.

The cabinet approved the release of special funds amounting to Rs 4 billion for the rehabilitation of the damages to the irrigation infrastructure caused by rains and floods. It was decided to hand over the auction process of state lands in DG Khan district to the cabinet standing committee for privatisation that will give its final recommendations after considering all the issues.

Punjab govt to dispatch medicines, medics to Balochistan, Sindh and KP, says Elahi

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